The National tribune., 1887-02-03
TIE RED FLAG.
History of a Day in Paris Under the
Commune.

BY HENRY A. ROBBINS, NJ. D., SURGEON, KIT
CARSON POST, NO. 2, GAR, DEPT OF PoToaAc.
THE following realistic account Of a days expe-
rence in Paris during it's siege while under the flag
OF the Commune is from the pen of n well known
physician Of Washington. who was an inmate Of the
household ofthe American Embassy which through
those troublous times under the charge of Hon.
T. B. Washburne. Such detail Of actual occur
renccs gives more vividly than any description a
suggestion Of the Paris Of that epochl:
The red flag foated over the Tuilleries, and
LibeTte, Egdlife, FrdteInite" was placarded all
over beautiful Paris The shTieking of shells
and kissing of bullets were familiar sounds to
L. b. Washburne and the few Americans who
composed the colony"
One fair morning a shell came searching for
me. Having first passed through my window,
it converted my bedstead into a mass of splin-
tiers, and then crushing through the wall fell
into the hall below. 1t was an electric bomb
and fortunately did not burst, or the little
party seated in the library would have made
hasty exit TO THAT undiscovered country from
whose bourne no traveller returns" A relic
hunter obtained that shell, and placing il be-
tween his knees tried TO unscrew it. The un-
dertaker had great difficulty in gathering
portion of his remains, and in the morning.
when Gabriel blows his horn" he will respond
FROM ALL PARTS OF PARIS.
There were but few doctors left in Paris. and
as il was known that had served in the Medi-
cal Department of our army during almost the
entire war of the rebellion was urged. for the
sake Of humanity, 20 offer my services in behalf
of the wounded. On applying TO Col Cluseret,
who was an officer Of our army during the war,
and who was then the Chief Of the Commune,
be at once appointed me Surgeon, with the
rank of Major. j was to receive no pay. My
commission was made out and card was given
me authorizing me 10 seize any vehicle, public
or private, and TO order the driver TO go where
i pleased. i was assigned to Fort lssy and its
vicinity.
The next day, accompanied by Maj. Deavon,
of Boston, four correspondents of the London
newspapers, and Mr. Meeks, the sexton of the
American Episcopal Church, / halted an omni-
bus and ordered the "cocher" TO drive TO Fort
Issy The first gate that we came 10 was Porte
Maillot. The guns from Mount Nalerien and
from five batteries were pointed at that gate.
The Commune troops were stationed up the
side streets, while the shells went
sHRIEKISG UP THE AVENUE
dc Ia Grande Armee some of them striking the
Arc de Triumphe. We rather objected TO being
put out at that gate, and ordered the "cocher"
to drive on to the next. We had TO cross
large open square, the demoniacal shrieking
and bursting Of shells accompanying Us on our
way.
As we approached the center of the square a
woman tried 10 run across, but a shell came
bounding along and she fell. We gathered her
into the omnibus and took her TO the hospital,
where both feet had TO be amputatod. We
then proceeded TO Fort Issy by another gate.
On our arrival there the shells from Mount
Nalerien were passing over us. Suddenly,
Meeks, our sexton friend, gave jump into the
air that would have done credit 10 an athlete.
lie exclaimed as he descended that he was shot.
On examination il was discovered that piece
of shell had torn his trowsers, aud that was all
h., Ae Ia yfu atf ffttsr
rather warm we made reconnaissance, and
saw away under our guns a railway tunnel. The
"cocher" was commanded 10 make all speed
for that place. We loisted the Geneva cross
aud made dash for il.
PANDEMoNIUM REIGSED
In that tunnel. We found IL filed with all
sorts of vehicles. Soldiers were cursing, laugh
ing and gesticulating in the genuine Partisan
manner. A Surgeon of the line was there,
"arrayed in all his glory" My staff went out
with stretchers, and / climbed up TO the top of
the bus " for quiet smoke. 1t was not long
before j was called down from my perch. My
party came in, triumphantly bearing a wound
ed soldier. Examination showed that he had
been hit in the back with n spent-ball, causing
a black-and-blue spot. As my professional ad-
vice was eagerly sought, i suggested that lit
tie saliva, applied in the Chinese way, would
be as good an application as any. This advice
]
him have the last word, as / climbed back TO
the top of the "bus."
Not many minutes had elapsed when there
was a terrible noise j thought that the Yer
sailles troops were coming ia at the other end
of the tunnel. There were
sHRIEKs AND YELLs,
| aud our French Surgeon turned pale and fell.
! We examined him and found no broken bones,
or any marks of violence. We gave him lit
! tie Eau de Vie, and consciousness soon returned,
aud with it a little more modesty OF demeanor.
The noise was caused by runaway team DASH
ing through.
Our little party carrying stretchers. then
followed little Captain, who ascended the
bank 10 make reconnaissance. IL was his
last, for bullet pierced his heart and he fell
dead. In his pocket we found his address.
We placed him gently in the omnibus, and our
"cochern drove US rapidly back 20 Paris. At
the gates hundreds of men, women aud chill
dren were congregated. All hats were raised
as our little cortege passed through. We de-
livered the remains 10 weeping relatives.
Thus ended our experience Of one day Of the
Paris Commune